Syria: Homs aid convoy comes under fire

An aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies into rebel-held areas of Homs
turns back under heavy fire

12:42PM GMT 09 Feb 2014

A ceasefire in the Syrian city of Homs was shattered by mortar fire on Saturday, halting a long-awaited operation designed to move out civilians and deliver essential aid.

Talal Barrazi, the governor of Homs province, told the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV that the apparent attack on the aid convoy occurred late in the afternoon and that the trucks were targeted by two roadside bombs and a mortar shell from the rebel side.

Homs activist Ahmad al-Qusair however denied there had been roadside bombs and said the convoy was attacked by mortar shells fired by government forces.

Barrazi later told Syrian state television that two trucks were able to reach opposition-held neighbourhoods earlier in the day.

Al-Mayadeen also reported that two trucks, carrying 250 food parcels, were able to cross into rebel-held areas Saturday.

Syrian state television said four members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were wounded by rebel fire in the area, but gave no further details.

Khaled Erksoussi, the head of operations at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said they would try to evacuate more civilians on Sunday from rebel-held areas in Homs, in line with a UN-brokered agreement on a three-day ceasefire.